If you’ve ever wondered what happens when 150 brilliant minds, a few steaming cups of coffee, and a whole lot of passion for education come together under one roof — welcome to the 11th Gulf Comparative Education Society (GCES) Symposium! Hosted at the Hilton Garden Inn, Ras Al Khaimah (yes, with views as inspiring as the discussions inside), this three-day gathering is where teaching meets tech, policy shakes hands with practice, and everyone leaves with a notebook full of “aha!” moments.
Running from 12–14 November 2025, the symposium dives into the theme “Pedagogy, Policy, and Praxis in the GCC.” In simpler terms — it’s all about figuring out how classrooms, curriculums, and clever ideas can work together to shape the future of learning in the Gulf.
A Collaboration of Bright Minds
Supported by New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) as the Premium Partner and United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) as Contributing Partner, this year’s event is a true team effort — proving that when great institutions collaborate, amazing things happen (and no, we’re not just talking about the networking breaks).
The speaker lineup? Let’s just say it’s the academic equivalent of an all-star cast. Names like Professor Michele Schweisfurth from the University of Glasgow, Dr. Jeremy Rappleye from the University of Hong Kong, and Mr. Chi Sum Tse from the OECD are just a few of the powerhouse voices taking the stage. Add in Dr. Khalaf Al’Abri from Sultan Qaboos University and Ms. Fatiah Touray from NYU Abu Dhabi, and you’ve got a lineup ready to spark some serious educational enlightenment.
Lessons Across Borders
Opening the event, Professor Schweisfurth kicked things off with her keynote “Pedagogy in International Perspective.” Her talk explored how teaching evolves across cultures — and how what counts as “good teaching” in one country might look totally different in another. Think of it as a world tour of classroom philosophies, minus the jet lag.
Voices That Shape the Future
Reflecting on the purpose behind it all, Dr. Natasha Ridge, Executive Director of the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, summed it up perfectly:
“What makes GCES so meaningful is its ability to unite voices that don’t often meet in the same room — policymakers, researchers, and teachers. Together, they remind us that education reform is not just about policy documents, but about people, classrooms, and the courage to rethink what truly matters in learning.”
Now in its 11th edition, GCES has grown from a small academic circle into a respected regional powerhouse for educational dialogue and reform. This year’s sessions are all about teacher development, inclusive education, and digital transformation — with a special focus on how AI is reshaping the classroom (because let’s face it, even teachers need to get along with robots now).
A Hub for Ideas and Inspiration
From thought-provoking panels to hallway debates and those all-important post-session coffee chats, GCES 2025 is buzzing with energy. It’s proof that when policy, pedagogy, and practice join forces, the result isn’t just another conference — it’s a movement pushing education in the GCC into an exciting, future-ready direction.
So here’s to bold ideas, passionate educators, and the power of collaboration — because if the GCES Symposium has taught us anything, it’s that real change in education starts with conversations like these.
Location
